NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 19327, 13 August 1926, Page 11

NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB

Saturday's minus On Saturday afternoon the members of tho above club spent a most enjoyable afternoon exploring tho bush at Silver Acres, Anderson’s Bay, as the guests of Mr and Mrs H. Fowler. This piece of bush is of rare beauty and free from elderberry. It was pleasing to hear from the present owner that it had always been in. the hands of people who appreciated it. Under tho protection of the forest trees, tho bush flax (Astelia nervosa) and several species of ferns grew luxuriantly, their beauty being greatly enhanced by the recent rains. The numbers of coprosinas, with their slender branches and dainty foliage,‘were conspicuous, the more noteworthy species being Coprosma lucida (C. aerolata, 0. rhamnoides, and 0. rubra). Several specimens of the silver tree fern (Cyathea dealbata) were met with. One particularly pretty glade was filled with tree ferns (Dicksonia squarrosa), and in their midst there rose above them a fine specimen of D. fibrosa, a tree fern which is now somewhat rare in the Dunedin district. The usual varieucs of bush trees to be found in this district were represented, and altogether over forty species of plants were*noted: but, being winter time, the. floor of tho forest did not exhibit the small herbaceous plants. About ten species of fungi were collected. IN FIORDLAND—WESTERN OTAGO.

At the indoor meeting, held on Monday evening, a very and illustrated address, entitled ‘ In Fiordland; The Camlet to the Sea, was given by Mr H. Fowler, who was assisted by his brother, Mr Jas. Fowler. The particular area dealt with was the country from the head of Lake Te Anau to Gaer’s Arm, Doubtful Sound. It was in the year 1918 that a party consisting of Mr Duncan Macpherson (Invercargill, district _ surveyor), Messrs H. Fowler and his son Alan, Mr Jas. Fowler, and Mr Martin (of the Railway Department), made the trip. The party was conveyed to the head of South Fiord by the Tourist Department’s steamer Tawera, and was then provided with a boat. They traversed the Gorge Burn, following it to its head, over the pass now called Macpherson Pass, and down the Camlet to Bradshaw Sound. At the mouth of Gorge Burn they left a tent with some clothes and provisions, and m the afternoon, with fairly heavy swags, made their way up the south side of Gorge Burn to No. 2 Lake (1,700 ft), where they camped. Next morning they continued on to Boomerang Lake, where they pitched camp, and in the afternoon went via Martin Burn, which Tor the first quarter of a mile is a stiff pull by South Eastern Shoulder, from which a fine view can be obtained up to the summit of Mount Baird (4,960 ft), an easy and safe climb. The view from Mount Baird was glorious, the ranges west to the ocean lay below, and Gaer’s arm was visible about nine miles distant. Towards the north, and appearing flat, lay Macpherson Pass, with its three lakes and the streams leading westward and north-west to Camelot River. Bad weather cam© up from the north, and the party had to beat a retreat, and arrived back at camp very wet. Next morning they continued round tho western shore of Boomerang Lake, which was steep and slow climbing, until held up by a bluff close to tho entrance of _ Gorge Burn, This cliff seemed nnclirabable, and seme of the party were for going back round by the other side of the lake. As the morning was far spent, they decided to try fording the stream near the mouth. Tho chief hindrance was deep slime, apparently bottomless} but they attempted the venture, and soon had their swags across, the depth being to the shoulders. Boomerang Lake, like Lake Ada, is a comparatively recent formation, as the trees are still standing below tho surface of the water. Above this the walking was difficult, steep rises with huge rocks being encountered until open ground along the stream was reached. Lakes Eva and lone are of considerable depth, and of an emerald green color. Turning to the west, a small lake was passed which drains underground into Lake Eva; then a short, easy rise to tho pass (3,100 ft). On the western face the ground falls away rapidly, and the bush line comes right up to the pass. The stream bed was easily negotiated until falls and a deep gorge were encountered. On the southern face there is a rapid drop of about I,oooft. The stream then runs more evenly, and the party _ camped about half a mile above tho junction. The journey next day was continued down the main stream past open toetoe flats until Marble Gorge was reached. Here the stream rushes into a series of rapids and falls, and finally down a gorgG about half a chain in width and 100 ft to 150 ft in depth After emerging the _ main Camelot River is reached, with Mount Wera immediately in front —a high mountain with dark green coloring. The Camelot (the name _ Camlet, which appears on the map, is an abbreviation of Camelot) is a fine stream, with good travelling along both river bed and in the hush, while many beautiful rapids, falls, and pools occur along its course. The party camped in the vicinity of one very fine fall called Bevedere Fall, and next day completed tho trip to Gncr Arm. Beautifully-colored pictures of mountain, river, lake, and bush scenery were thrown on tho screen. Mr Jas. Fowler diseased the geological aspects of tho journey, and described and illustrated a trip from Deep Cove to Gaer’s Arm.